Furnifold McLendel Simmons

Furnifold McLendel Simmons (20 January 1854-30 April 1940) was a member of the US House of Representatives (D-NC 2) from 4 March 1887 to 3 March 1889, succeeding James E. O'Hara and preceding Henry P. Cheatham, and a US Senator from 4 March 1901 to 4 March 1931, succeeding Marion Butler and preceding Josiah Bailey.

Biography
Furnifold McLendel Simmons was born in Pollocksville, North Carolina in 1854, and he became a leader of the state Democratic Party. A strong supporter of white supremacism, he led the 1898-1900 campaigns that effectively disenfranchised African-American voters for half a century, and he failed to win the Democratic nomination for President in 1920. His refusal to endorse Al Smith for President in 1928 led to him losing his Senate seat in 1930.